Method for displaying three-dimensional user interface

ABSTRACT

A method is provided that includes displaying a user interface including at least one menu item using at least one of first image data or second image data, receiving a signal related to the at least one menu item, and changing a spacing of the first image data and the second image data displayed on a screen in response to the received signal such that a change of depth of the menu item is perceived by a viewer.

This application claims priority and benefit from U.S. ProvisionalApplication No. 61/223,385, filed Jul. 7, 2009, the subject matter ofwhich is hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

Embodiments of the present invention may relate to a method fordisplaying a three-dimensional (3D) User Interface (UI) and an apparatusfor processing an image signal. More particularly, embodiments of thepresent invention may relate to a 3D UI displaying method and apparatusfor indicating an item selected from a hierarchical 3D UI with anincreased visibility.

2. Background

Along with growth of digital broadcasting, digital contents have beenincreased in amount and diversified, as compared to analog broadcasting.

While most digital contents are a two-dimensional (2D) content, more andmore 3D content has been produced to allow a viewer to enjoy a 3D effectand a sense of reality. It is expected from this trend of 3D contentwill be enjoyed through a receiver at home.

A User Interface (UI) for assessing and controlling a broadcast receiverand contents may be used to form a two-dimensional (2D) UI. However, ifa viewer selects a 3D content or a 3D mode, the viewer may feelconfusion or an inconvenience because of the provided 2D UI.

When 2D content coexists with 3D content in received contents, areceiver may not identify and indicate the 3D contents when providinginformation about content to a viewer. Therefore, if the viewer selects3D contents based on the contents information provided by the receiverwithout knowing that they are 3D contents, the viewer may view brokenand/or flickering images.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Arrangements and embodiments may be described in detail with referenceto the following drawings in which like reference numerals refer to likeelements and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a view for describing a sense of perspective based on aspacing between left image data and right image data;

FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate a method for controlling depth of athree-dimensional (3D) menu User Interface (UI) according to anexemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 illustrates a method for controlling a depth of a 3D menu UIaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate an exemplary two-dimensional (2D) menu UI and a3D menu UI to which a depth is added according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 illustrates a method for rendering a sense of volume according toa value in a 3D menu UI according to an exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 8 illustrates a method for rendering a sense of volume according toa value in a 3D menu UI according to an exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIGS. 9 and 10 illustrate a method for configuring a 3D menu UI so thatthe 3D menu UI gets a 3D effect gradually according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 11 illustrates a 3D menu UI to which a perceived depth is addedaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a block diagram of an image signal processing apparatusaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 13 is a block diagram of an image signal processing apparatus forconfiguring and outputting a 3D menu UI according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating a method for processing an imagesignal according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference may now be made in detail to preferred embodiments of thepresent invention, examples of which may be illustrated in theaccompanying drawings. The same reference numbers may be used throughoutthe drawings to refer to the same or like parts. In addition, althoughthe terms are selected from generally known and used terms, some of theterms mentioned in the description of embodiments have been selected bythe applicant at his or her discretion, the detailed meanings of whichmay be described in relevant parts of the description herein. Further,embodiments of the present invention may understood, not simply by theactual terms used but by the meaning of each term lying within.

A method for displaying a three-dimensional (3D) User Interface (UI) andan apparatus for processing a signal according to exemplary embodimentsof the present invention may be described below in detail.

3D Menu UI Displaying Method

A signal processing apparatus may process 3D image data based on astereoscopic principle. More specifically, left image data (or firstimage data) and right image data (or second image data) of one objectmay be created by capturing an object with two cameras at differentpositions and input perpendicularly to the human left and right eyes,respectively. Thus, the image data input through the left and right eyesmay be combined into a 3D image in a brain of the viewer. When the leftimage data and the right image data are input perpendicularly, thismeans that the input data does not interfere each other.

FIG. 1 is a view for describing a sense of perspective based on aspacing between left image data and right image data.

FIG. 1(A) illustrates a position 103 of an image formed by combiningleft image data 102 and right image data 101 that are spaced narrowlyapart from each other. FIG. 1(B) illustrates a position 113 of an imageformed by combining left image data 112 and right image data 111 thatare laterally spaced apart from each other.

FIGS. 1(A) and 1(B) illustrate different senses of perspective that arefelt from images that are formed at different positions according todistances between the left image data and the right image data in animage signal processing apparatus.

As shown in FIG. 1(A), if lines R1 and R2 extend along a line of sightfrom the right eye to both sides of the right image data 101 and linesL1 and L2 extend along a line of sight from the left eye to both sidesof the left image data 102, an image may be formed at the intersection103 between the line R1 and the line L1, spaced apart from the left andright eyes by a specific distance d1.

As shown in FIG. 1(B), when lines R3 and R4 and lines L3 and L4 extendin a same manner as described above with reference to FIG. 1(A), animage may be formed at the intersection 113 between the line R3 and theline L3, spaced apart from the left and right eyes by a specificdistance d2.

The distance d1 is greater (or larger) than the distance d2. Thisimplies that the image is formed farther from the left and right eyes inFIG. 1(A) than in FIG. 1(B).

The distance from the image to the left and right eyes may depend onlateral spacing between the left and right image data along a horizontaldirection in FIGS. 1(A) and 1(B).

For example, the spacing between the left image data 102 and the rightimage data 101 in FIG. 1(A) may be narrower than the spacing between theleft image data 112 and the right image data 114 in FIG. 1(B).

Accordingly, as spacing between the left image data and the right imagedata is decreased, an image obtained by combining the left image dataand the right image data may be perceived as being farther from thehuman eye.

Based on this principle, a sense of depth may be applied when a 3D menuUI is configured.

FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate a method for controlling depth of a 3D menu UIaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Otherembodiments and configurations may also be within scope of the presentinvention.

The spacing between left image data 210 (or first image data) and rightimage data 220 (or second image data) that form a 3D menu UI in FIG. 2(a) is less than (or smaller than) the spacing between left image data310 and right image data 320 that form a 3D menu UI in FIG. 3( a). Inother words, the left image data 310 is laterally spaced apart from theright image data 320 in FIG. 3( a) by a greater distance than the leftimage data 210 is spaced apart from the right image data 220 in FIG. 2(a).

An image resulting from combining the left image data and the rightimage data may give a different sense of perspective to the human eyedepending on spacing between the left image data and the right imagedata.

An image formed by combining the left image data 210 with the rightimage data 220 may look like a 3D menu UI 230 to the human eye based onspacing between the left image data 210 and the right image data 220 inFIG. 2( b).

An image formed by combining the left image data 310 with the rightimage data 320 may look like a 3D menu UI 330 to the human eye based onspacing between the left image data 310 and the right image data 320 inFIG. 3( b).

Compared with the 3D menu UI 230 shown in FIG. 2( b), the 3D menu UI 330shown in FIG. 3( b) may be perceived to be near to the human eye.Because perceived depth of the 3D menu UI 330 is greater than perceiveddepth of the 3D menu UI 230, the 3D menu UI 330 may look more protrudingthan the 3D UI 230. Depth may correspond to a menu or menu item that isperceived to protrude outward from a display screen. The depth may beconsidered a perceived depth since it is a depth as viewed by a user orviewer.

FIG. 4 illustrates a method for controlling depth of a 3D menu UIaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Otherembodiments and configurations may also be within scope of the presentinvention.

The 3D menu UI shown in FIG. 4 may be similar or identical to the 3Dmenu UIs shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 in that it is configured based on aprinciple that depth varies with spacing between left image data 410 andright image data 420, except that only the left image data and rightimage data of a desired item are apart from each other rather than theleft image data and right image data of all items being spaced from eachother, as compared to FIGS. 2( a) and 3(a).

When a user selects, for example, a color calibration item from the menuUI, only the left image data and the right image data of the colorcalibration item may be laterally spaced from each other as shown inFIG. 4( a), while maintaining spacing for other items of the menu UI. Asa result, a 3D menu UI may be configured as shown in FIG. 4( b).

Referring to FIG. 4( b), a sense of perceived depth may be provided onlyto the color calibration item, as compared to other menu items.

A 2D menu UI may be compared with a 3D menu UI based on the descriptionof FIGS. 1 to 4.

FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate an exemplary 2D menu UI and a 3D menu UI towhich a perceived depth is added according to an exemplary embodiment ofthe present invention. Other embodiments and configurations may also bewithin scope of the present invention. A depth may be a depth asperceived by a user or viewer based on the display screen.

FIG. 5 shows only a primary menu and FIG. 6 additionally shows asecondary menu for a primary menu item. The primary menu may be a basicmenu in a highest layer (of a hierarchical manner), and the secondarymenu may be a sub-menu of the primary menu.

FIG. 5( a) shows a 2D menu UI having only a primary menu 510. Theprimary menu 510 may list four menu items 511 to 514 (i.e., Menu 1 toMenu 4).

When the user selects Menu 1, the selection of Menu 1 may be shown bychanging a color of Menu 1 or a shading of Menu 1 in the 2D menu UI. Inpresence of lower menu items of the selected menu item 511 (i.e., Menu1), a secondary menu 610 may be displayed as shown in FIG. 6( a).

FIG. 5( b) shows a 3D menu UI that has only a primary menu 550 as inFIG. 5( a). Compared to the 2D menu UI shown in FIG. 5( a), menu items551 to 554 (i.e., Menu 1 to Menu 4) of the primary menu 550 may have aspecific perceived depth.

If the user selects Menu 1, Menu 1 (i.e., menu item 551′ in FIG. 5( b))may be highlighted with a specific depth, and thus may be perceived asprotruding from the screen. If there are lower menu items of Menu 1, asecondary menu 650 may be displayed along with Menu 1 as shown in FIG.6( b).

Menu items 651 to 654 of the secondary menu 650 (i.e., Menu 1-1 to Menu1-4) may also have a specific perceived depth. The depth level of thesecondary menu 650 may not be necessarily equal to the depth level ofthe primary menu 550. When the Menu 1-1 is selected, Menu 1-1 may have adifferent perceived depth level from the other menu items Menu 1-2, Menu1-3 and Menu 1-4, as shown in FIG. 6( b).

A selected menu item may be identified, on the whole, in a color on aplane in the 2D menu UI, whereas a selected menu item may be indicatedby a perceived depth that is realized based on spacing between the leftimage data and the right image data of the selected menu item in the 3Dmenu UI.

As shown in FIG. 6( b), the selected menu item may have a differentdepth level from the other menu items by differentiating spacing betweenthe left image data and the right image data of the selected menu item.For example, as the left image data and the right image data arelaterally spaced further apart from each other on the screen, a viewermay perceive a greater depth of the selected menu item. At the sametime, a perceived depth of a non-selected menu item may be maintained bymaintaining spacing of image data for the unselected menu item.

FIG. 7 illustrates a method for rendering a sense of volume according toa value in a 3D menu UI according to an exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention. Other embodiments and configurations may also bewithin scope of the present invention.

While many menu items may be changed in their values, the changing ofsound volume may be provided as an example. FIG. 7 relates to changing asound volume such as by use of a remote controller.

A sound volume may be set to a level 10 as shown in FIG. 7( a) and/or asound volume may be set to a level 100 as shown in FIG. 7( b).

When the user changes the sound volume, circular cylinder (orcone-shaped) left image data and right image data representing thechanged sound volume may be spaced from each other in an amountproportional to the sound volume variation. Thus, the image (or menuitem) representing sound volume may be perceived by a viewer asprotruding.

FIG. 8 illustrates a method for rendering a sense of volume according toa value in a 3D menu UI according to an exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention. Other embodiments and configurations may also bewithin scope of the present invention.

A sense of volume corresponding to a value may be expressed in a form ofa circular cylinder image as shown in FIG. 7. In FIG. 8, the sense ofvolume may be represented in the form of a bar. FIG. 8 relates tochanging a sound volume such as by use of a remote controller.

As shown in FIG. 8( a), a 2D menu 800 may include menu items such asContrast, Brightness, Sharpness, Color Density, and/or Color in whichthe values may be represented by degrees of a color filled in bars.

As shown in FIG. 8( b), menu items of the menu 800 may have differentperceived depth levels according to their values, so that the menu itemsmay be perceived as protruding differently according to depth levels.

Assuming that senses of sound volume range from a level 0 to a level100, a menu item may provide a sense of volume to the user (or viewer)as spacing between the left image data and the right image data of themenu item is set according to a value set for the menu item by the user,and thus perceived depth of the menu item may change based on thespacing. For example, as the value of a menu item increases, the menuitem may get a higher depth level and may be perceived to be moreprotruding (as the left image data and the right image data arelaterally spaced further apart from each other).

FIG. 8( c) shows a combination of FIGS. 8( a) and 8(b). A differentperceived depth and color may be applied to each menu item based ontheir perspective values.

In FIG. 8( c), menu items may be configured so that they are representedwith a same perceived depth but with different colors based on theirspecific values.

FIG. 8( d) may be an application of FIG. 7 in which menu items may berepresented in the form of vertical bars, and not horizontal bars asshown in FIGS. 8( b) and 8(c).

While menu items may be represented in circular cylinders or bars, themenu items may take a form of a tetrahedron, and/or the like. That is,other embodiments may be provided.

FIGS. 9 and 10 illustrate a method for configuring a 3D menu UI so thatthe 3D menu UI may get a 3D effect gradually according to display timeaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Otherembodiments and configurations may also be within scope of the presentinvention.

In FIG. 9, a weight may be applied to provide a gradual 3D effect to a3D menu UI over time. The concept of weight may be introduced such thata menu item may reach a preset depth level stepwise over time ratherthan all at one time.

In FIGS. 9( a) to 9(d), weight 1 to weight 4 may be shown, respectively.For example, if an upper bound of a menu bar representing a 3D effect is100, 100 depth levels may be defined, although a number of depth levelsmay vary when needed.

The weights may be pre-mapped to depth levels, and specifically weight 1to depth level 25 (i.e., 3D effect level 25), weight 2 to depth level 50(i.e., 3D effect level 50), weight 3 to depth level 75 (i.e., 3D effectlevel 75), and weight 4 to depth level 100 (i.e., 3D effect level 100).

When a menu item with weight 1 (i.e., 3D effect level 25) is selected,the menu item may be perceived by a viewer as being more protrudinggradually as its depth increases from level 0 to level 25 stepwise,rather than reaching level 25 all at one time.

As circular left image data 1010 and circular right image data 1020 arespaced apart from each other and toward both sides (i.e., their lateralspacing is increased), as shown in FIG. 10( a), the resulting image 1030may be perceived by a viewer as being more protruding gradually from areference plane as shown in FIG. 10( b). In other words, a depth may beperceived by a viewer as the image appears to protrude out from thedisplay screen.

FIG. 11 illustrates a 3D menu UI to which a perceived depth is addedaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Otherembodiments and configurations may also be within scope of the presentinvention.

In FIG. 11, a selected menu item may be perceived by a viewer as beingmore protruding gradually over time.

FIG. 11( a) shows menu items 1110, 1120, 1130, 1140 (i.e., Menu 1-1 toMenu 1-4) in a menu 1100. Menu 1-1 may be selected and thus may get adifferent perceived depth from the other menu items 1120, 1130 and 1140.

If a menu item 1120-1 under Menu 1-1, namely Menu 1-2, is selectedthrough a remote controller as shown in FIG. 11( b), a perceived depthof the previously selected menu item, Menu 1-1, may decrease to thelevel at which Menu 1-1 is in an inactive state, as shown in FIG. 11(c).

The selected menu item 1120-1, Menu 1-2, may have a perceived depth thatincreases gradually over time. Therefore, the resulting menu item1120-2, Menu 1-2, may be perceived as being more protruding gradually inFIG. 11( d). As one example, the perceived depth may change for 0.1 to 1second.

Signal Processing Apparatus

FIG. 12 is a block diagram of an image signal processing apparatusaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Otherembodiments and configurations may also be within scope of the presentinvention.

As shown in FIG. 12, a signal processing apparatus may include a DigitalTelevision (DTV) main board 1210, a 3D formatter 1220 and a displaymodule 1230.

The DTV main board 1210 may primarily process image data in a receivedsignal. For example, the DTV main board 1210 may be a general DTV forprocessing a digital broadcast signal. The primary processing may referto a series of processes including tuning of a channel carrying adigital broadcast signal including image data, reception of the digitalbroadcast signal through the tuned channel, demodulation anddemultiplexing of the digital broadcast signal, and decoding the imagedata demultiplexed from the digital broadcast signal.

The DTV main board 1210 may include a UI controller 1211 for configuringa 3D menu UI and a Frame Rate Converter (FRC) 1212. The FRC 1212 may beconfigured separately from the DTV main board 1210. The FRC 1222 may beincorporated into the 3D formatter 1220 in a single module.

The UI controller 1211 may control a 3D menu UI to be configured on thedisplay module 1230. As described above with reference to FIGS. 1 to 11,the UI controller 1211 may control the 3D menu UI to have a perceiveddepth, which may gradually change over time.

The FRC 1212 may process an input image signal and a control signalreceived from the UI controller 1211 in correspondence with an outputfrequency of the display module 1230. For example, if the image signalfrom the DTV main board 1210 is 60 Hz and an output frequency of thedisplay module 1230 is 240 Hz, the FRC 1212 may process the image signalin a predetermined scheme such that frequency of the image signalbecomes 240 Hz. The predetermined scheme may be temporal interpolationof an input image signal or simple repetition of an input image signalframe.

For ease of description, the output frequency of the display module 1230is 240 Hz, although embodiments are not limited.

The temporal interpolation scheme may process an input 60 Hz imagesignal to a 240 Hz image signal by dividing the 60 Hz image signal by 4(0, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75).

The simple repetition scheme may repeat each frame of the input 60 Hzimage signal three times (i.e., four occurrences) so that the frame is240 Hz.

The temporal interpolation or the simple repetition may be appropriatelyselected according to format of the input 3D image in the FRC 1212.

A description may now be provided of processing the 3D image data thatwas primarily processed in the DTV main board 1210.

The 3D formatter 1220 may include a switch 1221 and a core 1222 forconfiguring the 3D image data that was matched to the output frequencyby the FRC 1212, according to an output format (i.e., a 3D format).

The switch 1221 may process 2D image data as well as 3D image data,received from the DTV main board 1210. Upon receipt of the 2D image datafrom the DTV main board 1210, the switch 1221 may switch the 2D imagedata to bypass the core 1222. On the other hand, if the received imagedata is of a 3D format, the switch 1221 may switch it to the core 1222.

The 3D formatter 1220 may output the configured 3D image data to thedisplay module 1230. The 3D formatter 830 may generate a synchronizationsignal Vsync for the 3D image data, for synchronization during viewing,and output the synchronization signal V_sync to an InfraRed (IR) emitter(not shown) so that the user may view the image with shutter glasses (orgoogles) in synchronization to the display module 1230. The IR emittermay output the synchronization signal V_sync to a light receiver of theshutter glasses. The shutter glasses may be synchronized to the 3D imagedata output from the display 1230 by adjusting a shutter open periodaccording to the synchronization signal V_sync.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram of a signal processing apparatus forconfiguring and outputting a 3D menu UI according to an exampleembodiment the present invention. Other embodiments and configurationsmay also be within scope of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 13, a signal processing apparatus 1300 may include atuner 1301, a demodulator 1302, a Demultipelxer (DEMUX) 1303, anexternal input receiver 1304, a controller/Moving Picture Experts Group(MPEG) decoder 1305, a key input receiver 1306, a 3D UI processor 1307,a mixer 1308, an FRC 1309, a 3D formatter 1310, and a display module1311. The signal processing apparatus may be a DTV, for example. Thesignal processing apparatus 1300 may include other components forprocessing a broadcast signal, in addition to the components shown inFIG. 13.

The tuner 1301 may tune a specific channel to receive a broadcast signalincluding an image data.

The demodulator 1302 may demodulate the received broadcast signal.

The DEMUX 1303 may demultiplex the demodulated broadcast signal byPacket Identifier (PID) filtering.

The external input receiver 1304 may be connected to an external inputdevice in various manners and receive a signal from the external inputdevice. The external input may be High Definition MultimediaInterface/Digital Video Interface (HDMI/DVI) input, Component input, orRed, Green, Blue (RGB) input.

The key input receiver 1306 may receive a user input through a remotecontroller or a local key.

The controller/MPEG decoder 1305 may decode the image data in the signalreceived via the tuner 1301 or the external input receiver 1304 andoutput a control signal according to a user command received from thekey input receiver 1306.

The 3D UI processor 1307 may generate depth information and display timeinformation about an UI and may make the UI look three-dimensional basedon the generated depth information and the generated display timeinformation about highlighted UI. That is, the 3D UI processor 1307 mayincrease visibility of a menu item selected from a hierarchical menu bydifferentiating perceived depth of the selected menu item over time. The3D UI processor 1307 may maximize visibility of a 3D UI bydifferentiating perceived depth of the 3D UI based on a user settingvalue. A major function of the 3D UI processor 1307 may be to add weightinformation based on a UI bitmap and a depth to a 2D UI in order to givevarious senses of depth to the 2D UI.

The mixer 1308 may mix the output of the controller/MPEG decoder 1305with the output of the 3D UI processor 1307 and output the mixed signalto the FRC 1309.

The FRC 1309 may convert a 2-channel Low Voltage Differential Signal(2CH LVDS) signal to a 120-Hz 4CH LVDS signal by motion compensation.

Upon receipt of 2D image data, the 3D formatter 1310 may simply outputthe received 2D image data. Upon receipt of 3D image data, the 3Dformatter 1310 may mix left image data and right image data configuringof the 3D image data to an LVDS signal and output the LVDS signalthrough the display module 1311.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating a method for processing an imagesignal according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.Other embodiments and configurations may also be within scope of thepresent invention.

Referring to FIG. 14, the image signal may be received through an RFchannel or as an external input in operation S1401. The received imagesignal may be demodulated and demultiplexed in operation S1402.

In operation S1403, the demultiplexed image signal may be MPEG-decoded.

3D UI information may be configured so that a UI may lookthree-dimensional based on depth information and display timeinformation about UI information to be highlighted in operation S1404.

The configured 3D UI information may increase visibility of a menu itemselected from a hierarchical menu by changing a perceived depth of theselected item over time, and maximize visibility of the 3D UI bydifferentiating the perceived depth of the 3D VI based on a user settingvalue.

In operation S1405, the MPEG-decoded image signal may be mixed with theconfigured 3D UI information. The mixed image signal and the 3D UIinformation may be configured in a 3D format in operation S1406 and maybe output through the LCD module in operation S1407.

Accordingly, embodiments of the present invention may be directed to a3D UI displaying method and an image signal processing apparatus forincreasing visibility of an item selected from a hierarchical 3D UI byapplying a different perceived depth level to the selected item in the3D UI.

An embodiment of the present invention may provide a method andapparatus for indicating determined 3D contents distinguishably fromother contents.

A method may be provided for displaying a User Interface (UI). Themethod may include (a) receiving, at a receiving unit, a request fordisplaying a UI including one or more items, (b) changing, at a UIcontroller, a (perceived) depth of the UI according to the request, and(c) displaying, at a display unit, the UI with the changed (perceived)depth.

The UI may include changed (perceived) depths of all items in the UI.

The UI may include only a changed (perceived) depth of a selected itemin the UI.

The perceived depth of the UI may be changed by controlling a spacingbetween first image data and second image data that configure the UI.

The perceived depth of the UI may be changed stepwise over time.

The perceived depth of each item in the UI may be differentiatedaccording to a value set for each item.

A method for displaying a User Interface (UI) may include (a)displaying, at a display unit, a first UI among hierarchical UIs, (b)changing, at a UI controller, a (perceived) depth of an item, uponselection of the item from the displayed first UI, and (c) displaying,at the display unit, the changed first UI and a second UI associatedwith the selected item, the second UI having a (perceived) depthdifferent from a (perceived) depth of the first UI.

The perceived depth of the selected item in the first UI may be changedby adjusting a spacing between first image data and second image datathat configure the first

UI.

The perceived depth of the selected item in the first UI may be changedstepwise over time.

The perceived depth of the selected item in the first UI may bedifferent from a perceived depth of other items in the first UI.

The perceived depth of the second 3D UI may be larger than the perceiveddepth of the first UI.

The method may further include changing, at the UI controller, aperceived depth of an item, upon selection of the item from thedisplayed second UI and displaying, at the display unit, the second UIincluding the item with the changed perceived depth.

The perceived depth of each item in the first UI and the second UI maybe differentiated based on a value set for the item.

An apparatus may be provided for processing a signal. The apparatus mayinclude a receiving unit for receiving a request for displaying a UserInterface (UI) including one or more items, a UI controller forgenerating a control signal according to the request, to change apredetermined depth to a UI, a formatter for configuring the UI to havethe predetermined depth in a three-dimensional (3D) format and a displayunit for displaying the UI configured in the 3D format.

The UI controller may control a spacing between first image data andsecond image data that configure the UI so that the UI has thepredetermined depth.

The UI controller may control the spacing stepwise over time.

The UI controller may control a perceived depth of each item in the UIto be different based on a value set for the item.

Upon receipt of a request for selecting a specific item in the displayedUI from the receiver, the UI controller may control a perceived depth ofthe selected specific item to be different from other items in the UI.

Any reference in this specification to “one embodiment,” “anembodiment,” “example embodiment,” etc., means that a particularfeature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with theembodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the invention. Theappearances of such phrases in various places in the specification arenot necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Further, when aparticular feature, structure, or characteristic is described inconnection with any embodiment, it is submitted that it is within thepurview of one skilled in the art to effect such feature, structure, orcharacteristic in connection with other ones of the embodiments.

Although embodiments have been described with reference to a number ofillustrative embodiments thereof, it should be understood that numerousother modifications and embodiments can be devised by those skilled inthe art that will fall within the spirit and scope of the principles ofthis disclosure. More particularly, various variations and modificationsare possible in the component parts and/or arrangements of the subjectcombination arrangement within the scope of the disclosure, the drawingsand the appended claims. In addition to variations and modifications inthe component parts and/or arrangements, alternative uses will also beapparent to those skilled in the art.

1. A method comprising: displaying a user interface including at leastone menu item using at least one of first image data or second imagedata: receiving a signal related to the at least one menu item; andchanging a spacing of the first image data and the second image datadisplayed on a screen in response to the received signal such that achange of depth of the at least one menu item is perceived by a viewer.2. The method of claim 1, wherein changing the spacing compriseschanging a lateral spacing of the first image data and the second imagedata that corresponds to the at least one menu item.
 3. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the first image data is left image data and the secondimage data is right image data.
 4. The method of claim 1, whereinchanging the spacing includes moving the first image data away from thesecond image data.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein changing thespacing occurs for the at least one menu item while maintaining spacingof image data for unselected menu items.
 6. The method of claim 1,wherein the at least one menu item relates to a sound volume.
 7. Themethod of claim 6, wherein the received signal is a signal received froma remote controller to change the sound volume.
 8. The method of claim1, wherein when a value corresponding to the at least one menu itemincreases, the depth of the at least one menu item perceived by theviewer increases.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein the received signalconverts a plurality of the menu items into a three-dimensional image.10. A method comprising: displaying a user interface including at leastone menu item using at least one of first image data or second imagedata: receiving a signal related to the at least one menu item; andmoving the first image data and the second image data displayed on ascreen relative to each other in response to the received signal suchthat a change of depth of the at least one menu item is perceived by aviewer.
 11. The method of claim 10, wherein moving the first image dataand the second image data includes moving the first image data and thesecond image data apart relative to each other such that a greaterchange of depth of the at least one menu item is perceived by theviewer.
 12. The method of claim 10, wherein moving the first image dataand the second image data includes moving the first image data and thesecond image data closer together relative to each other such that aless change of depth of the at least one menu item is perceived by theviewer.
 13. The method of claim 10, wherein moving the first image dataand the second image data occurs for the at least one menu item whilemaintaining spacing of image data for unselected menu items.
 14. Themethod of claim 10, wherein the depth of only a selected menu item ofthe user interface is changed.
 15. The method of claim 10, wherein thefirst image data is left image data and the second image data is rightimage data.
 16. The method of claim 10, wherein the at least one menuitem relates to a sound volume.
 17. The method of claim 16, wherein thereceived signal is a signal received from a remote controller to changethe sound volume.
 18. The method of claim 10, wherein when a value ofthe at least one menu item increases, the depth of the selected menuitem perceived by the viewer increases.
 19. The method of claim 10,wherein the received signal converts a plurality of the menu items intoa three-dimensional image.
 20. A method for displaying a User Interface(UI), the method comprising: receiving, at a receiving unit, a requestto display a UI that includes at least one item; providing, at a UIcontroller, a depth of item information to be displayed on the UI basedon the request; and displaying the item information having a changeddepth on a display unit.
 21. The method of claim 20, wherein a depth ofonly a selected item in the UI is changed.
 22. The method of claim 20,wherein the depth of each item in the UI is differentiated according toa value set for each item.
 23. The method of claim 20, wherein the depthis changed by controlling a spacing between first image data and secondimage data.
 24. The method of claim 23, wherein controlling the spacingoccurs for the selected item while maintaining spacing of image data forunselected items.
 25. The method of claim 23, wherein the at least oneitem relates to a sound volume.
 26. The method of claim 23, wherein whena value of the item increases, the depth of item perceived by a viewerincreases.